Rosehill Gardens to host Golden Eagle Day
Excitement is building as the Golden Eagle is about to make its debut at Rosehill Gardens.
Parramatta
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The eagle and its $7.5 million purse are poised to land at Rosehill Gardens and there are few trainers, jockeys, punters and fashionistas as excited as Clare Hawkes and her trainer husband Michael.
The Dundas couple’s horse Brutal is the favourite to take out the inaugural 1500m Golden Eagle for four-year-olds at their “second home” Rosehill, where the race is a finale to the Everest Carnival on Saturday.
Brutal has performed well and Mrs Hawkes says the debut event will be “huge’’.
“He’s been primed for this race, so here’s hoping all goes well,’’ she said.
“We always believe in our horse and he’s done everything right. I think he can do it.
“It’s a lot of money up for grabs; it’s going to be a tough field.”
The Hawkes are also sure spectators will relish Rosehill.
“To be able to have a race of this calibre on our home turf out west in Rosehill is going to be unbelievable,” Mrs Hawkes said.
“Hopefully the big crowds come and support it and it will continue for years to come.
“It’s a 1500m race and going to have the best horses for it. The set-up at Rosehill’s incredible.’’
Mrs Hawkes has racing in her blood; her mother Linda Jones was a jockey and her father Alan a trainer.
“Mum got her jockey’s licence after being knocked back years and years and she was told she wasn’t strong enough and she was going to be taking the livelihood of a man,’’ she said.
“This was in the ‘70s and she was told she was too old. She was 24.’’
It was only natural Mrs Hawkes married trainer Michael.
“Racing’s been in my blood my whole life and I love it,’’ she said.
“You get such a genuine buzz and thrill and butterflies in your stomach.
“It’s a lifestyle. We live, we breathe our horses and they’re our number one priority so they’re very well looked after.’’
The New Zealand-born racing royalty will also be sporting a gold headpiece by Sunshine Coast milliner Tracy Mac on Saturday to match the colour theme of the day, while her outfit will be navy.
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